Four ways to give healthy living advice to college students

In a spring 2023 Student Voice survey from Inside Higher Ed and College Pulse, 49 percent of students rated their mental health as fair or poor. Over half (56 percent) of students reported having experienced chronic stress while in college, and three-quarters (74 percent) said stress was negatively impacting their ability to focus, learn and do well in school.

Despite college students having an overwhelming need for health support, not every student is able to find or be interested in scheduling an appointment with a counselor.

Data from telehealth provider TimelyCare found half of college students using the platform don’t engage with a provider; instead they engage with self-care resources or peer community resources. Of the million sessions on the platform in the past year, over 400,000 interactions have been with self-care content, says Bob Booth, TimelyCare’s chief care officer.

“They are very popular with students, signaling to us the need for additional on-ramps to care,” Booth adds.

To better equip students with health and wellness resources, colleges and universities can invest in self-guided resources, giving students a way to address their concerns on their own time. Inside Higher Ed compiled three areas of institutional support that can aid learners in their health journeys.

1. Library resources

Penn State librarians noticed a trend in 2019—more anonymous responses to library student engagement forums related to mental health challenges. Students wanted help learning how to improve time management, sleep quality and motivation, among other topics.

In response, librarians at the Berks Thun Library partnered with Berks Campus Counseling Services to create the Wellness Collection at the library. The wellness collection has more than 300 titles and is located near the sensory room, making it both secluded and private and in proximity to spaces that help students destress. Penn State students can also access wellness resources on their phones using the Libby app.

In addition to providing information on mental health and wellness habits, reading serves a greater purpose—leisure and recreational reading can lower stress, blood pressure and heart rate, according to previous research.

2. Fitness resources

A significant number of Student Voice respondents said their preferred wellness activities were physical fitness, including going to the gym (58 percent), group walks or hikes (28 percent), exercise classes (27 percent), recreational sports (23 percent), and yoga classes (22 percent).

To encourage more women and gender minorities to participate in campus fitness activities, the University of Texas at Austin’s student government created HustleHer, which is a series of workout classes designed to support students who do not identify as men.

The SGA’s Women’s Resource Agency established the initiative because women can be uncomfortable or intimidated going to the gym, The Daily Texan reported. The group has hosted a “hot girl walk,” a weight-lifting event and yoga classes since launching in November, partnering with other fitness groups on campus.

3. Multimedia resources

Eastern Michigan University created a video podcast in September to help students improve their mental health. The monthly podcast features an EMU student alongside two co-hosts and a mental health professional to share testimonials, insights and resources.

Episode content has covered the LGBTQ+ community, alcoholism and financial struggles, with future content addressing relationships, “adulting,” impostor syndrome, grade anxiety, adjustments to campus life, social media harms, social justice and more, according to a university press release.

Colleges have also developed wellness app content, similar to offerings from telehealth providers, that allows learners to engage with expert advice and insight on their own time.

Do you have a wellness tip that might help others encourage student success? Tell us about it.